How to Get Started with AI (Without Feeling Overwhelmed)

This episode of helps beginners ease into the world of artificial intelligence by sharing a simple, five-step approach anyone can follow—no tech background required.

Rather than getting caught up in the hype or fear, listeners are encouraged to treat AI with curiosity and explore it through tools they already use. From testing out chat-based tools like ChatGPT to leveraging built-in AI features in everyday software like Gmail, Microsoft Word, and Canva, small, consistent use can lead to big confidence gains.

The key is not to overthink it—just start where you are, use it for things you already do, and build from there. And when you're ready to level up, we share a trick for writing better prompts to get the most out of AI tools.

5 Simple Steps to Start Using AI:

1. Approach AI with curiosity instead of complexity.
2. Try chat-based tools like ChatGPT using voice or text.
3. Use AI to assist with tasks you're already doing regularly.
4. Explore AI features built into software like Gmail, Canva, or Microsoft Copilot.
5. Practice writing more specific prompts for better results.

Top Takeaways:

• You don’t need to be tech-savvy to use AI.
• Start small and build your confidence over time.
• Use tools you already know to make AI less intimidating.
• Better prompts = better results.
• Practicing weekly can turn AI into a powerful everyday assistant.

Click here to get the full show notes:

Five Ways to Get Started with Artificial Intelligence

Host Camille Attell is a remote work strategist, career coach, and the host of The Remote Work Retirement Show. After leaving a 20-year corporate career, she transitioned to a flexible, location-independent lifestyle and has since helped thousands of professionals do the same. Through her Remote Work School program, Camille empowers mid-career professionals and retirees to find meaningful remote work opportunities, build financial security, and design a work-life on their own terms.

Take her FREE remote work training:

www.camilleattell.com/remote-training

Learn how to leverage your digital products or service:

www.camilleattell.com/remoteworkschool

Click below to connect with Camille online:

Instagram: @camille.attell

Linkedin: Camille Attell, MA

Read more about the RV and Remote Work Lifestyle at https://www.morethanawheelin.com/

Think you're too old, too behind on tech, or too overwhelmed to start a business? In this episode, Camille tackles those fears with real talk and actionable advice. Whether you're 50, 60, or even 80, it’s not too late to start something new—especially if that “something” is a business that fits your lifestyle and future goals.

Camille also shares a powerful free training called The Rise of the Digital CEO by her longtime mentor James Wedmore. This 3-part series walks you through how to stop spinning your wheels and start building a business with clarity, confidence, and a solid plan.

You’ll learn:

• Why starting a business later in life can actually be your superpower
• The truth about “tech overwhelm” and why you know more than you think
• Why AI is your new best friend (and not as scary as it sounds)
• How to build a simple, low-cost business that fits your energy, time, and budget
• What you’ll get inside the free Digital CEO training—and how to join

Some Key Takeaways:

1. Age Is Not the Problem—Your Mindset Might Be
   Your experience is an asset. Nearly 25% of new businesses in 2021 were started by people aged 55–64 (Kauffman Foundation).
2. You Know More Tech Than You Think
   If you can stream Netflix, use online banking, or listen to this podcast—you’ve already got transferable tech skills.
3. Overwhelm Comes from Too Many Choices, Not from You
   Simple is better. Go with an all-in-one platform, skip the bells and whistles, and build from there.
4. You Don’t Need to Be an AI Expert to Use It Well
   AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are easy to learn—and can fast-track your content, offers, and marketing.
5. Online Businesses Have Lower Costs and Higher Potential
   Skip the storefront. A digital business lets you work from anywhere, sell anytime, and scale without inventory or overhead.

🎯 Ready to stop wondering if it’s too late—and start taking action?

Click here ot join this FREE Three-Part series The Rise of The Digital CEO

Click here to get the full show notes:

Is It Too Late to Start a Business?

Host Camille Attell is a remote work strategist, career coach, and the host of The Remote Work Retirement Show. After leaving a 20-year corporate career, she transitioned to a flexible, location-independent lifestyle and has since helped thousands of professionals do the same. Through her Remote Work School program, Camille empowers mid-career professionals and retirees to find meaningful remote work opportunities, build financial security, and design a work-life on their own terms.

Take her FREE remote work training:

www.camilleattell.com/remote-training

Learn how to leverage your digital products or service:

www.camilleattell.com/remoteworkschool

Click below to connect with Camille online:

Instagram: @camille.attell

Linkedin: Camille Attell, MA

Read more about the RV and Remote Work Lifestyle at https://www.morethanawheelin.com/

Meet financial advisor Eric La Manna as he breaks down what investing really means, especially for those over 50 pivoting to remote work or business ownership. He shares smart metaphors, clears up the mystery around cryptocurrency & explains how to approach retirement planning when you're self-employed.

You’ll learn:

• Why picking investments is like choosing how you get to work
• What cryptocurrency actually is—and why younger investors are drawn to it
• The difference between short-term fear and long-term market trends
• Retirement planning tips for freelancers and small business owners
• The one thing more important than your investment choices: having a plan

Some Key Takeaways:

1. Start Where You Are, Even If You're Late to the Game
It's never too late to start planning for retirement.

2. Know Your Risk Tolerance and Time Horizon
Understanding how much risk you're comfortable with and how much time you have until retirement is critical

3. Diversify, Don’t Gamble
Cryptocurrency and individual stocks can play a role, but Eric stresses the importance of diversification and caution.

4. Plan with Purpose
Retirement isn’t just about money — it’s about the lifestyle you want.

You don’t need to be a financial expert to get started but you do need clarity on where you’re headed. If you want a companion on that road Eric’s someone who brings wisdom without the jargon.

Click here to get the full show notes:

Investing in Uncertain Times for Folks 50+

Want to connect with Eric La Manna?

Visit: http://www.edwardjones.com/eric-lamanna

Call: (832) 592-0041

Eric La Manna is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in The Woodlands, TX. He began his career in financial services in 2006 in California, and in 2019 opened his personal practice with Edward Jones. Eric holds the Accredited Asset Management Specialist designation. He focuses on helping individuals, families, and business owners simplify and organize their financial lives, along with financial goal planning.

Host Camille Attell is a remote work strategist, career coach, and the host of The Remote Work Retirement Show. After leaving a 20-year corporate career, she transitioned to a flexible, location-independent lifestyle and has since helped thousands of professionals do the same. Through her Remote Work School program, Camille empowers mid-career professionals and retirees to find meaningful remote work opportunities, build financial security, and design a work-life on their own terms.

Take her FREE remote work training:

www.camilleattell.com/remote-training

Learn how to leverage your digital products or service:

www.camilleattell.com/remoteworkschool

Click below to connect with Camille online:

Instagram: @camille.attell

Linkedin: Camille Attell, MA

Read more about the RV and Remote Work Lifestyle at https://www.morethanawheelin.com/

We interview Brittany Ratsmith, hiring expert & business owner, to uncover what hiring managers are really looking for in remote job candidates. She will share practical advice from both the job seeker & employer perspectives whether you're looking to land a remote role or grow a remote team.

What you'll learn:

1. Why it's critical to show ownership and autonomy when applying for remote roles
2. The importance of over-communicating your interest, availability, & expectations as a remote worker
3. Red flags hiring managers watch for in remote interviews & how to avoid them
4. How to stand out in your application & follow-up process
5. What hiring managers wish job seekers would do more often
6. Tips for business owners hiring remotely, especially first-time employers

Bonus Insight:
Brittany shares a story about a candidate who impressed her w/confidence, clarity, & thoughtful follow-up, revealing what really makes someone memorable.

Key Takeaways:

1. Remote hiring is about more than skills—communication, self-management, & culture fit are equally important.
2. Candidates who demonstrate qualities like organization & follow-through stand out more than those who just talk about them.
3. Self-awareness and the ability to reflect on your own work style are green flags for hiring managers.
4. Business owners should develop a thoughtful hiring process instead of rushing to fill a role.
5. Remote teams thrive when members balance independence w/consistent communication.
6. Whether you’re applying or hiring, clarity is key, vagueness is a red flag on both sides.

Click here to get the full show notes:

What Remote Hiring Managers Actually Look for in Candidates

Brittany Rastsmith is a Remote Systems & Operations Consultant and the founder of Bloom Remote. She helps early-stage founders build remote teams that do the day-to-day work better than they could themselves, freeing them up to focus on the work only they can do. From scalable hiring and onboarding to communication and performance systems, she helps remote startups grow without chaos. Brittany is also a founding member of the Future of Work Alliance, a collective reimagining work to be more sustainable, effective, and human. Learn more at bloomremote.com or connect with her on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brittanyrastsmith.

Host Camille Attell is a remote work strategist, career coach, and the host of The Remote Work Retirement Show. After leaving a 20-year corporate career, she transitioned to a flexible, location-independent lifestyle and has since helped thousands of professionals do the same. Through her Remote Work School program, Camille empowers mid-career professionals and retirees to find meaningful remote work opportunities, build financial security, and design a work-life on their own terms.

Take her FREE remote work training:

www.camilleattell.com/remote-training

Learn how to leverage your digital products or service:

www.camilleattell.com/remoteworkschool

Click below to connect with Camille online:

Instagram: @camille.attell

Linkedin: Camille Attell, MA

Read more about the RV and Remote Work Lifestyle at https://www.morethanawheelin.com/

In this episode, Camille explores how self-sabotage can hinder mid-career professionals transitioning to remote work. Through the stories of Carol and Thomas, she illustrates how reframing personal challenges and adjusting mindsets can lead to successful career shifts into the remote work landscape.​ The following highlights are from conversations in a coaching circle as part of Camille's online coaching program, Remote Work School.

Key Points:

• Carol's Transition to Freelance Bookkeeping: Carol, a former nurse, seeks flexibility and autonomy through remote work. Despite health challenges, she repositions her experiences as strengths, offering empathetic and resilient bookkeeping services.​
• Thomas's Career Shift Strategy: Thomas, with a sales background, feels overwhelmed by the idea of a complete career pivot. By identifying transferable skills and focusing on incremental changes, he navigates a smoother transition into remote roles.​

Key Takeaways:

1. Recognize patterns of self-sabotage to initiate change.
2. Reframe personal challenges as unique professional strengths.
3. Use empowering language to describe career transitions.
4. Implement small, manageable steps towards career change.
5. Leverage existing skills to facilitate remote work transitions.

Click here to get the full show notes:

Stop Sabotaging Your Transition to Remote Work

Host Camille Attell is a remote work strategist, career coach, and the host of The Remote Work Retirement Show. After leaving a 20-year corporate career, she transitioned to a flexible, location-independent lifestyle and has since helped thousands of professionals do the same. Through her Remote Work School program, Camille empowers mid-career professionals and retirees to find meaningful remote work opportunities, build financial security, and design a work-life on their own terms.

Take her FREE remote work training:

www.camilleattell.com/remote-training

Learn how to leverage your digital products or service:

www.camilleattell.com/remoteworkschool

Click below to connect with Camille online:

Instagram: @camille.attell

Linkedin: Camille Attell, MA

Read more about the RV and Remote Work Lifestyle at https://www.morethanawheelin.com/

Our topic needs more focus in remote work: Mental Muscles. No fluffy mindset tips: real tools to help face fear, overwhelm & frustration. New or seasoned these muscles are key to success.

Frustration: Inevitable but Not an Enemy:
Keep it real: frustration is part of anything new including remote work. Learn to move through it faster by strengthening your inner skills.

Acceptance: A Power Tool:
Acceptance is not giving up it's seeing things as they are not how you wish they were. A shift lowers stress chemicals like cortisol & adrenaline easing mental strain & overwhelm.

You Can Rewire Your Brain:
Simple practices: breaks, meditation, journaling, short walks can reset your brain chemistry. Not indulgences but strategies.

Avoid the “Expert Trap”:
Thinking you should already know something blocks learning. Even seasoned remote workers need a beginner mindset. It takes practice to grow.

Be Resourceful, Not Dependent:
Camille reflects on how she used to always ask for help but that didn’t build her skills. Remote work demands self-reliance. Be your own tech support, researcher & motivator.

Stop Expecting Instant Help:
Unlike in an office help isn’t always nearby. Even in support systems like Remote Work School independence matters. Answers don’t grow your skills problem-solving does.

Ask Yourself One Powerful Question:
Stuck? Ask: “What is my next step to become more ________?”
Fill in the blank—more patient, focused, less stressed. Let your inner wisdom guide you.

5 Key Takeaways

Patience & Grace Are Foundational
New challenges will come. Meeting them with patience & grace eases stress & keeps you moving.

Acceptance Lowers Frustration
When you stop resisting reality you create space to think clearly & act calmly.

Beginner Mindset Opens Doors
Forget needing to know everything. Curiosity helps you learn faster & adapt more easily.

Resourcefulness Is Non-Negotiable
No coworker nearby? No problem. Learn to search, experiment & use your community wisely.

Ask Better Questions, Get Better Results
Don’t stay stuck ask: “What’s my next step to become more calm, clear, focused, etc.?” Then trust the answer.

This episode reminds us that remote work success isn’t just tactical it’s internal. Camille offers strong insights & tools to help you build the mental strength needed to thrive.

Click here to get the full show notes:

Mental Muscles You Need to Build to Be a Remote Worker

Host Camille Attell is a remote work strategist, career coach, and the host of The Remote Work Retirement Show. After leaving a 20-year corporate career, she transitioned to a flexible, location-independent lifestyle and has since helped thousands of professionals do the same. Through her Remote Work School program, Camille empowers mid-career professionals and retirees to find meaningful remote work opportunities, build financial security, and design a work-life on their own terms.

Take her FREE remote work training:

www.camilleattell.com/remote-training

Learn how to leverage your digital products or service:

www.camilleattell.com/remoteworkschool

Click below to connect with Camille online:

Instagram: @camille.attell

Linkedin: Camille Attell, MA

Read more about the RV and Remote Work Lifestyle at https://www.morethanawheelin.com/

Camille highlights the Freelance After 50 Summit scheduled for April 15–17 & touches on how recent shifts in government policies, particularly tariffs & global trade, are contributing to financial concerns, especially for older adults nearing or retired. The summit, offering free & paid options w/replays available, provides timely guidance on exploring flexible work opportunities and diversifying income streams.

She urges listeners not to wait for economic clarity but take proactive steps. Freelancing is offered as a viable way to create new income stream, starting with small with side gigs. The aim is to help people over 50 take action, offering practical tools & inspiration to start or grow a freelance business, even for those uncertain about their career path.

Day 1 focuses on a meaningful next chapter. Camille recommends Richard Eisenberg’s talk on “Unretirement and Freelancing,” which helps people find purpose after traditional retirement. Kathy Goughenour’s session will help folks discover their ideal freelance niche. Camille speaks about the "In-Demand Remote Work Skills & Niches for 2025". The day ends with a live fireside chat.

Day 2 dives into actionable steps for launching a freelance career. Tracy D’Aviero will feature how to start from scratch, while Tanya Sutherland discusses finding clients in 2025. Leslie Pyle will talk about finding contract work w/her platform, HireMyMom.com. The day ends with an expert roundtable with live Q&A.

Day 3 focuses on designing a freelance life that fits your lifestyle. Brian Clark will discuss becoming a digital nomad after 50, something Camille is personally familiar with. Franklin Taggart will simplify freelance tech tools, and Colleen Koeck will help attendees overcome imposter syndrome.

Camille concludes that with the summit’s tools and support, launching a freelance career can be fast and empowering, even within a week.

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Freelancing offers a solution to financial instability for those over 50.
2. The summit provides actionable steps to start or grow a freelance business.
3. Day 1 focuses on inspiration and finding your freelance niche.
4. Day 2 helps attendees take action with expert advice and live Q&A.
5. Day 3 teaches how to build a career that fits your lifestyle.

Click here to register for the Freelance After 50 Summit

Click here to get the full show notes:

Must-See Sessions at the Freelance After 50 Summit

Host Camille Attell is a remote work strategist, career coach, and the host of The Remote Work Retirement Show. After leaving a 20-year corporate career, she transitioned to a flexible, location-independent lifestyle and has since helped thousands of professionals do the same. Through her Remote Work School program, Camille empowers mid-career professionals and retirees to find meaningful remote work opportunities, build financial security, and design a work-life on their own terms.

Take her FREE remote work training:

www.camilleattell.com/remote-training

Learn how to leverage your digital products or service:

www.camilleattell.com/remoteworkschool

Click below to connect with Camille online:

Instagram: @camille.attell

Linkedin: Camille Attell, MA

Read more about the RV and Remote Work Lifestyle at https://www.morethanawheelin.com/

Today’s episode explores recent developments in tariffs, stock market reactions, and employment implications, especially for retirees and older workers navigating remote work. Though not a policy expert, Camille interprets complex issues for an audience often overlooked—those approaching or in retirement, many of whom rely on market outcomes and job stability.

Tariffs aim to correct trade imbalances and revive U.S. manufacturing, but the reality is more complicated. While benefits like job creation and reduced import reliance are possible, products like the Ford F-150 show the global nature of modern manufacturing. Rebuilding domestic supply chains is a long-term challenge that tariffs alone can’t solve.

Higher tariffs may increase consumer prices and harm small businesses, as costs are passed on to consumers. Camille shares an example of a small shoe company struggling due to rising import costs.

Market volatility tied to tariffs adds uncertainty, especially for retirees concerned about shrinking portfolios. While tariffs are marketed as job creators, they could backfire by increasing automation instead.

Camille emphasizes awareness and encourages focusing on what’s controllable, like upskilling or exploring freelance opportunities, such as those featured in the Freelance After 50 Summit. She hopes for productive trade negotiations but cautions against oversimplified solutions. Broad tariffs could result in self-inflicted damage, so staying alert and prepared is crucial.

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Tariffs may raise prices and hurt small businesses more than they help the broader economy.
2. Stock market volatility following trade announcements affects retirees and those nearing retirement the most.
3. Rebuilding U.S. manufacturing is a complex, long-term goal that tariffs alone can't accomplish.
4. Automation is likely to replace jobs, even if production returns to the U.S.
5. Staying informed and adaptable—through skills-building and remote work—is crucial in uncertain economic times.

Click here to register for the Freelance After 50 Summit

Click here to get the full show notes:

Tariffs, Stocks, and Jobs: My Take on How You May be Affected

Host Camille Attell is a remote work strategist, career coach, and the host of The Remote Work Retirement Show. After leaving a 20-year corporate career, she transitioned to a flexible, location-independent lifestyle and has since helped thousands of professionals do the same. Through her Remote Work School program, Camille empowers mid-career professionals and retirees to find meaningful remote work opportunities, build financial security, and design a work-life on their own terms.

Take her FREE remote work training:

www.camilleattell.com/remote-training

Learn how to leverage your digital products or service:

www.camilleattell.com/remoteworkschool

Click below to connect with Camille online:

Instagram: @camille.attell

Linkedin: Camille Attell, MA

Read more about the RV and Remote Work Lifestyle at https://www.morethanawheelin.com/